Workstations with cable routing system

ABSTRACT

A multiple-person workstation includes a plurality of horizontal work surfaces. The multiple-person workstation further includes a power beam. The power beam includes two horizontal beams each defining a horizontal wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed to one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces. The power beam further includes a vertical beam configured to be connected between the two horizontal beams such that the two horizontal beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the two horizontal beams and the vertical beam.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/671,975, entitled “WORKSTATIONS WITH ORGANIC POWER BEAM,” filed on May 15, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to cable routing systems and, more particularly, to cable routing systems for use with clustered personal and group workstations.

2. Description of the Related Art

A general trend in office spaces is to move away from individual offices towards shared office space. In such a shared office space environment, multiple individuals may be assigned to work in a shared room. Each individual may have his or her own desk or workstation, which may include a computer or a docking station for a laptop. It is desirable for each desk or workstation to be equipped with power and/or data connections to facilitate connection of the computer or docking station to a power supply and to a company network.

Problems have arisen in such shared office space environments regarding how to route the power and/or data cables to the individual workstations or desks. While data transfer can occur wirelessly, such as via an 802.11 standard (such as Wi-Fi), such wireless connections may have less bandwidth than a wired connection and are more vulnerable to hacking or other malicious attacks. Additionally, current technology fails to provide for wireless power transfer at distances that would occur in such shared environments.

Conventionally, cables may be routed through floorboards, walls, or ceilings to provide connectivity to an employer's power and data networks. However, if the shared room is rearranged (such as when employees are added, a remodel is performed, etc.) then the routing of cables into the shared room must also be redone. This undesirably results in increased design time and costs. Additionally, time, effort, and money must be spent on the original design of the cable routing through the floorboards, walls, or ceilings.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for workstations with improved cable routing systems.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a multiple-person workstation. The multiple-person workstation includes a plurality of horizontal work surfaces. The multiple-person workstation further includes a power beam. The power beam includes two horizontal beams each defining a horizontal wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed to one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces. The power beam further includes a vertical beam configured to be connected between the two horizontal beams such that the two horizontal beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the two horizontal beams and the vertical beam.

Also described is a cable routing system. The system includes two transport beams each having an axis and defining a wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed, the wire channel being oriented along the axis. The system further includes a support beam configured to be connected between the two transport beams such that the two transport beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the two transport beams and the support beam.

Also described is a cable routing system. The system includes multiple elongated transport beams each defining a horizontal wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed. The system further includes multiple support beams each configured to be connected between two of the multiple elongated transport beams and configured to be adjusted such that two of the multiple elongated transport beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the multiple elongated transport beams and the multiple support beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Component parts shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and may be exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the present disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the different views, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a multiple-person workstation including multiple workstations and a power beam, or cable routing system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate various views and features of the cable routing system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate additional views and features of the cable routing system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle between transport beams of the cable routing system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a workstation that is connected to the cable routing system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of two workstations of the multiple-person workstation of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a wire basket for use with a workstation of the multiple-person workstation of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of a workstation of the multiple-person workstation of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes novel multiple-person workstations and components thereof. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, a multiple-person workstation 100 is shown that includes multiple personal workstations 102 and a power beam, or cable routing system, 104 (shown in FIG. 2A; the power beam 104 is hidden beneath the workstations 102 in FIG. 1). The multiple-person workstation 100 may be modular, and thus may include any quantity of personal workstations 102 oriented in any desirable configuration. Additionally, more personal workstations 102 may be later added to the multiple-person workstation 100, or personal workstations 102 may be removed from the multiple-person workstation 100. Each of the multiple personal workstations 102 includes a horizontal work surface 106 and a vertical partition 108. The horizontal work surface 106 may be oriented parallel to a ground surface or may form an angle relative to the ground surface, and the vertical partition 108 may be oriented perpendicular to a ground surface or may form an angle greater than or less than 90 degrees relative to the ground surface. A separate file cabinet or drawer 110 may be provided for each of the personal workstations 102. An outlet or plug may be included on the horizontal work surface 106 of each of the multiple personal workstations 102.

The power beam 104, or cable routing system 104, may include a plurality of horizontal beams, or transport beams, 114 and a plurality of vertical beams, or support beams, 116. Where used herein, “horizontal” refers to a direction that forms an angle with a “vertical” direction that is between 45 degrees and 135 degrees, between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, or between 80 degrees and 100 degrees. In some embodiments, a “horizontal” element may be relatively parallel to a ground surface when in a fully configured state, and a “vertical” element may be relatively perpendicular to a ground surface when in a fully configured state.

Power and/or data wires or cables may be routed to each of the personal workstations 102 via the power beam 104. Stated differently, wires or cables may be housed within the horizontal beams 114 and the vertical beams 116 of the power beam 104, and the wires or cables may be routed from the power beam 104 to the personal workstations 102. For example, a wire sleeve 118 (shown in FIG. 5) may be used to house a particular wire or set of wires that is transferred from the power beam 104 to a personal workstation 102.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2E, various views and details of the power beam 104 are shown. The power beam 104 may be modular. In that regard, the power beam 104 may include any quantity of horizontal beams 114 and any quantity of vertical beams 116, and horizontal beams 114 and vertical beams 116 may each be added or removed from the power beam 104. In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2E, the power beam 104 includes two horizontal beams 200, 202 and three vertical beams 204, 206, 208. The vertical beam 206 may be referred to as a connector vertical beam 206 as it is used to connect the first horizontal beam 200 to the second horizontal beam 202. The vertical beams 204, 208 may be referred to as end beams as each is only connected to one of the horizontal beams 114.

Each of the vertical beams 116 may include a horizontal coupling surface 210. The horizontal coupling surface 210 may include a first plurality of fastener apertures 212 and a second plurality of fastener apertures 214. The plurality of fastener apertures 212 may be oriented in an arc shape about a main fastener aperture 222. An angle 216 between the first horizontal beam 200 and the second horizontal beam 202 may be adjusted by fastening the corresponding horizontal beams 200, 202 to one of the fastener apertures 212, 214. The first horizontal beam 200 may have a first beam cap 201 located on top of the first horizontal beam 200 and configured to cover the first horizontal beam 200. Likewise, the second horizontal beam 202 may have a second beam cap 203 located on top of the second horizontal beam 202 and configured to cover the second horizontal beam 202.

As shown, the first horizontal beam 200 is coupled to the main fastener aperture 222 and a first fastener aperture 220 that is adjacent to a center fastener aperture 218. If the first horizontal beam 200 and the second horizontal beam 202 are each coupled to their respective center fastener apertures 218, then the angle 216 may be 180 degrees. If the first horizontal beam 200 is coupled to the first fastener aperture 220 that is adjacent the center fastener aperture 218, and the second horizontal beam 202 is coupled to its corresponding center fastener aperture then the angle 216 may be equal to 180 degrees minus 15 degrees. That is, the angle 216 may be adjusted incrementally by fastening the corresponding horizontal beams to the vertical beam 206 using fasteners at a selected fastener aperture of the plurality of fastener apertures 212, 214. For example, the angle 216 may be adjusted in 15 degree increments for each fastener aperture away from the center fastener aperture.

With brief reference to FIG. 4, the vertical beam 206 may be coupled to the second horizontal beam 202 in a variety of manners based on the selected fastener aperture 214. As shown, an angle of the second horizontal beam 202 relative to a centerline 400 of the vertical beam 206 may be adjusted by a set amount by selecting adjacent fastener apertures 214. For example, the angle of the second horizontal beam 202 relative to the centerline 400 may be 15 degrees in response to the first fastener aperture 220 of FIG. 2 being selected, and may be 30 degrees in response to a second fastener aperture 230 being selected (the second fastener aperture 230 being adjacent to the first fastener aperture 220, which is adjacent to the center fastener aperture 218). However, the amount of change of the angle may be greater than or less than 15 degrees without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2E, 3A, and 3B, additional details of the power beam 104 are shown. As shown, the first vertical beam 204 may be an end beam. That is, only one horizontal beam 200 may be coupled to the first vertical beam 204. In that regard, an open cap 300 may be inserted into a space 302 defined by the first vertical beam 204. The open cap 300 may define an opening 304 through which wires or cables may be received by the power beam 104. The third vertical beam 208 may also be an end beam but may be located at a terminal end of the power beam and may fail to receive a cable or wire. In that regard, the third vertical beam 208 may receive a filler cap 306 that may be similar to the open cap 300 but may fail to define an opening. In that regard, inclusion of the filler cap 306 may cause the third vertical beam 208 to be or operate as an end beam that fails to receive or transport wires. The horizontal beam 200 may be inserted into a space that is similar to the space 302 but on an opposite side of the first vertical beam 204.

Each of the vertical beams 204, 206, 208 may receive a housing top 308. The housing top 308, along with any horizontal beams 200, 202 and caps 300, 306, may enclose a cavity 310 defined by the vertical beams 204, 206, 208. Such closing of the cavity 310 reduces the likelihood of debris being received by the cavity 310, thus increasing a lifespan of the power beam 104 by reducing wear and tear caused by undesirable debris accumulation.

Each of the vertical beams 204, 206, 208 may include a flange 312 located at a bottom of the corresponding vertical beam 204, 206, 208. The flange 312 may provide support for the corresponding vertical beam 204, 206, 208 on a floor surface.

Each of the horizontal beams 200, 202 may define one or more wire opening 224. For example, the wire opening 224 may be defined on a bottom surface 226 of each of the horizontal beams 200, 202.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2E, 3A, 3B, and 5, the wire sleeve 118 may be designed to be coupled to any of the wire openings 224. In that regard, wires may be received by the power beam 104 via the opening 304 of the first vertical beam 204. The wires may be routed through the first horizontal beam 200. Some of the wires may be routed out of the first horizontal beam 200 via the wire openings 224 and may be carried to a corresponding workstation 102 via the wire sleeve 118. Additional wires may continue to run through the horizontal beam 200, may pass through the second vertical beam 206, and may pass through the second horizontal beam 202 where some wires may exit through additional wire openings 228 of the second horizontal beam 202.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, an individual workstation 500 of the personal workstations 102 is shown. As shown, the workstation 500 includes the horizontal work surface 106 and the vertical partition 108. The horizontal work surface 106 may have a curve and may be shaped to resemble a kidney. The vertical partition 108 may be coupled to the horizontal work surface 106 at a back end 502 of the horizontal work surface 106.

The horizontal work surface 106 may include an outlet or plug 504. The outlet or plug 504 may include a power outlet, a data outlet or port, or the like. The outlet or plug 504 may be located at any location along the horizontal work surface 106. In some embodiments, the outlet or plug 504 may be located near the back end 502 of the horizontal work surface 106 (i.e., proximate to the vertical partition 108) such that it is unlikely to reduce a workable portion of the horizontal work surface 106. In some embodiments, the outlet or plug 504 may include a switch usable to turn on or off the outlet or plug 504. For example, the switch may be used to turn on or off data connection to the outlet or plug 504 and may be used to turn on or off power to the outlet or plug 504.

The workstation 500 may further include two or more legs 506 that are each coupled to one or more foot 508. The legs 506 and feet 508 may be used to provide support for the horizontal work surface 106 and the vertical partition 108.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a bottom view of the workstation 500 is shown. As shown, the wire sleeve 118 may transport the cables from the power beam 104 to the workstation 500. The power beam 104, such as the horizontal beam 200, may be coupled to the workstation 500 via support beams 700, 702.

The horizontal work surface 106 may have a bottom surface 704. A wire basket 706 may be coupled to the bottom surface 704. The wire basket 706 may define an area or volume 708 in which wires from the power beam 104 may be routed. The wire basket 706 may further define an outlet or plug 710 that may be coupled to one or more of the wires from the power beam 104. For example, the outlet or plug 710 may include at least one of power ports or data ports. In that regard, a computer may be connected to the wires of the power beam 104 via the outlet or plug 710.

As shown, the wire basket 706 may include flanges 712 that are used to connect the wire basket 706 to the bottom surface 704 of the horizontal work surface 106. As further shown, the wire basket 706 may be located near the back end 502 of the horizontal work surface 106 (i.e., proximate to the vertical partition 108 of FIG. 1) in order to reduce the likelihood of contact between legs of a user and the wire basket 706.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, additional details of the workstation 500 are shown. In particular, the bottom surface 704 may further include a bag hook 800. The bag hook 800 may be used, for example, for hanging a personal item such as a briefcase or purse.

The legs 506 of the workstation 500 may be adjustable. That is, they may include an outer portion 802 and a telescoping inner portion 804. The inner portion 804 may be raised or lowered relative to the outer portion 802, and a fastener or other support item may be used to lock the inner portion 804 in place relative to the outer portion 802. In that regard, the horizontal work surface 106 may be raised or lowered to suit the desires of a particular user. In various embodiments, the horizontal work surface 106 may be raised sufficiently high that a user may stand and work at the horizontal work surface 106. In various embodiments, the legs 506 may utilize design features other than telescoping portions to facilitate adjustment in the vertical direction.

One or more bracket 806, such as a “L bracket,” may be used to connect the horizontal work surface 106 to the vertical partition 108. For example, the bracket 806 may be fastened to the bottom surface 704 of the horizontal work surface 106 and to the vertical partition 108.

Where used throughout the specification and the claims, “at least one of A or B” includes “A” only, “B” only, or “A and B.” Exemplary embodiments of the methods/systems have been disclosed in an illustrative style. Accordingly, the terminology employed throughout should be read in a non-limiting manner. Although minor modifications to the teachings herein will occur to those well versed in the art, it shall be understood that what is intended to be circumscribed within the scope of the patent warranted hereon are all such embodiments that reasonably fall within the scope of the advancement to the art hereby contributed, and that that scope shall not be restricted, except in light of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple-person workstation, comprising: a plurality of horizontal work surfaces; and a power beam having: two horizontal beams each defining a horizontal wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed to one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces; and a vertical beam configured to be connected between the two horizontal beams such that the two horizontal beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the two horizontal beams and the vertical beam.
 2. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 wherein the vertical beam includes a horizontal coupling surface including a first plurality of fastener apertures configured to receive a first fastener to couple a first horizontal beam of the two horizontal beams to the vertical beam.
 3. The multiple-person workstation of claim 2 wherein an angle between the two horizontal beams can be adjusted by coupling the first horizontal beam to a first selected fastener aperture of the first plurality of fastener apertures with the first fastener.
 4. The multiple-person workstation of claim 3 wherein the horizontal coupling surface further includes a second plurality of fastener apertures configured to receive a second fastener to couple a second horizontal beam of the two horizontal beams to the vertical beam, wherein the angle between the two horizontal beams can be adjusted by coupling the second horizontal beam to a second selected fastener aperture of the second plurality of fastener apertures with the second fastener.
 5. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 further comprising an open cap configured to be connected to the vertical beam to provide an opening through the vertical beam that is configured to receive the wires, and a filler cap configured to be connected to the vertical beam to cause the vertical beam to operate as an end beam.
 6. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 wherein the vertical beam includes a flange for supporting the vertical beam on a floor surface.
 7. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of curved vertical partitions each configured to be coupled to one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces.
 8. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wire baskets each configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces.
 9. The multiple-person workstation of claim 1 further comprising a wire sleeve configured to be coupled between the at least one wire opening of one of the two horizontal beams and one of the plurality of horizontal work surfaces and to house the at least one of the wires.
 10. A cable routing system comprising: two transport beams each having an axis and defining a wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed, the wire channel being oriented along the axis; and a support beam configured to be connected between the two transport beams such that the two transport beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the two transport beams and the support beam.
 11. The cable routing system of claim 10 wherein the support beam includes a coupling surface including a first plurality of fastener apertures configured to receive a first fastener to couple a first transport beam of the two transport beams to the support beam.
 12. The cable routing system of claim 11 wherein an angle between the two transport beams can be adjusted by coupling the first transport beam to a first selected fastener aperture of the first plurality of fastener apertures with the first fastener.
 13. The cable routing system of claim 12 wherein the coupling surface further includes a second plurality of fastener apertures configured to receive a second fastener to couple a second transport beam of the two transport beams to the support beam, wherein the angle between the two transport beams can be adjusted by coupling the second transport beam to a second selected fastener aperture of the second plurality of fastener apertures with the second fastener.
 14. The cable routing system of claim 10 further comprising an open cap configured to be connected to the support beam to provide an opening through the support beam that is configured to receive the wires, and a filler cap configured to be connected to the support beam to cause the support beam to operate as an end beam.
 15. The cable routing system of claim 10 wherein the support beam includes a flange for supporting the support beam on a floor surface.
 16. The cable routing system of claim 10 further comprising a wire sleeve configured to be coupled between the at least one wire opening of one of the two transport beams and a horizontal work surface and to house the at least one of the wires.
 17. A cable routing system comprising: multiple elongated transport beams each defining a horizontal wire channel configured to port wires and at least one wire opening configured to receive at least one of the wires to be routed; and multiple support beams each configured to be connected between two of the multiple elongated transport beams and configured to be adjusted such that two of the multiple elongated transport beams can form an adjustable angle based on connections between the multiple elongated transport beams and the multiple support beams.
 18. The cable routing system of claim 17 wherein each of the multiple support beams includes a coupling surface having a first plurality of fastener apertures configured to receive a first fastener to couple a first elongated transport beam of the multiple elongated transport beams.
 19. The cable routing system of claim 18 wherein an angle between the two of the multiple elongated transport beams can be adjusted by coupling the first elongated transport beam to a first selected fastener aperture of the first plurality of fastener apertures with the first fastener.
 20. The cable routing system of claim 17 further comprising an open cap configured to be connected to one of the multiple support beams to provide an opening through the one of the multiple support beams that is configured to receive the wires, and a filler cap configured to be connected to the one of the multiple support beams to cause the one of the multiple support beams to operate as an end beam. 